Angry mob targeted murdered Bristol man because they wrongly believed he was a paedophile

AN angry mob of up to 20 people continually harassed Bijan Ebrahimi in the days leading up to his horrific death.

As false rumours circulated and escalated that he was a paedophile, it was not just murderer Lee James and accomplice Stephen Norley who turned on the 44-year-old, the Bristol Post can reveal.

And it has also emerged that the city council has started an independent case review into any dealings it had with Mr Ebrahimi in the run-up to his death.

Residents have spoken of the "anger" and "hostility" that was in the air of Capgrave Crescent in Brislington on Thursday, July 11, when innocent Mr Ebrahimi was arrested by Avon and Somerset police on suspicion of breaching the peace following complaints that he had been taking pictures of children in the area. Accusations were flying around from numerous people who lived near the disabled Iranian and more than one person was calling him a paedophile.

That day, prosecutors say, 24-year- old James, who lived two doors down from Mr Ebrahimi with his young family, threatened to take the law into his own hands.

Mr Ebrahimi's passion in life was the flowers and plants he grew at the front of his maisonette and neighbours said he was "always out there" tending to them.

Several neighbours believe it was his determination to gather evidence of anti-social behaviour, damage to his flowers and harassment that, through the false allegations it sparked, ultimately led to his murder.

As previously reported, Mr Ebrahimi was beaten unconscious by James, who, with the help of next-door neighbour Norley, dragged his body out of his council home to Whitmore Avenue and used white spirit to set it alight.

Two days earlier, Mr Ebrahimi, who had lived alone in the crescent for about three years, was arrested after complaints were made by neighbours.

Police spokesman Martin Duns- combe said: "Mr Ebrahimi was arrested on suspicion of a public order offence – breach of the peace – and after being interviewed he was released with no further action taken.

"We can categorically state he had not taken any indecent images and that nothing of concern had been found on his computer."

Mr Ebrahimi was released on Friday the 12th and was killed in the early hours of Sunday, July 14.

Looking back to the heated evening of his arrest, a neighbour, who did not want to be named, said: "On that Thursday evening, everyone came out and they were calling him a paedophile. When we went into the close it was very hostile – they wanted him moved out.

"There were about 20 people out there all having a say. They had him down as a 100 per cent paedophile.

"One man was saying that he'd (Mr Ebrahimi) been burnt out of his previous home.

"When the police took him away, everyone was cheering. Then he got released back into that."

Another resident said: "Whoever started those rumours now has to live with that. He wasn't a paedophile and now he's dead.

"That's a hell of a conscience to have. He was always out there, he loved his flowers.

"Since it happened there has been a lot of hostility in the close and everyone in that block has been trying to get out."

Questioning how the authorities dealt with the matter, the resident added: "Something's gone seriously wrong for that to happen."

The Post has been told that James, who admitted murder, warned at least one parent that Mr Ebrahimi had been taking photographs of children in the crescent.

Several men came from nearby streets with the intention of "dealing" with the allegations by threatening him, but refrained.

Sources have said that Mr Ebrahimi was only taking photos of the children he believed had, at James' instigation, damaged his flower beds.

A source said: "I think Mr Ebrahimi was trying to get evidence to give to the police and council."

The council has refused to say whether they received any complaints of anti-social behaviour from Mr Ebrahimi during his time in Capgrave Crescent.

It has also refused to confirm whether he made complaints about his flowers being damaged, or whether he was moved from his previous council house, believed to have been on Callington Road, because he was having trouble with neighbours there.

What a spokesman would confirm, however, is that a voluntary, independent case review is under way.

The spokesman said: "The review will examine all the authority's contact with Mr Ebrahimi to explore what, if any, lessons can be learnt."

After Mr Ebrahimi's death, the police voluntarily referred the case to the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) because they had contact with him in the days before his death.

In September, the IPCC confirmed it had served three constables who dealt with Mr Ebrahimi with gross misconduct notices after information about their conduct "came to light".

They were suspended by the force before being interviewed by the IPCC under criminal cautions.

An inspector, sergeant and constable who dealt with Mr Ebrahimi in custody on July 12, none of whom have been suspended, were also served with notices of gross misconduct and the Post understands have also been interviewed.

James and Norley, also 24, who admitted assisting an offender, will be sentenced at Bristol Crown Court on November 28.